Lifesaving helmet

ABSTRACT

A lifesaving helmet has an inlet valve positioned above an enclosure for the head and a conduit communicating at one end with the inlet valve, the other end of the conduit being so located as to discharge air in the region of the nose and mouth of the wearer, but terminating short of the mouth to enable normal functioning thereof. An outlet valve is positioned at the bottom of the enclosure and below the discharge end of the conduit. The outlet valve is adapted to exhaust both air and water from within the enclosure under normal exhalation pressure.

United States Patent 1 3,695,262

Haviland 51 Oct. 3, 1972 [54] LIFESAVING HELMET 2,766,466 10/1956 Johns ..9/345 X [72] Inventor: John F. Haviland, 731 SW. Salmon v St Portland, 0mg 97205 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. B. Mitchell [22] Flled May 1970 Attorney-Buckhorn, Blore, Klarquist & Sparkman [21] Appl. No.: 38,134

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. .Q. ..128/145 R A lifesaving helmet has an inlet valve positioned above [51] Int. Cl. ..A62b 7/00 an enclosure for the head and a conduit communicat- [58] Field of Search ...128/ 145 R, 145 A, 142-1427, ing at one end with the inlet valve, the other end of 128/ 1 the conduit being so located as to discharge air in the 9/ 14, 311, 329, 332, 345 region of the nose and mouth of the wearer, but ter-- minating short of the mouth to enable normal func- [56] References cued tioning thereof. An outlet valve is positioned at the UNITED STATES PATENTS bottom of the enclosure and below the discharge end of the conduit. The outlet valve 18 adapted to exhaust Wilen....' R X both air and water from the enclosure under 1 ,2 l 9 Belchet 0- 1 A normal exhalation pressure 2,362,775 11/1944 Sebouh ..l28/142 859,786 7/ 1907 Steenerson ..l28/ 142.7 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnm 3 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 JOHN E HAVILAND' INVENTOR BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLARQUIST & SPARKMAN ATTORNEYS 'PATENTEDum 3 m2 sum 2 0F 2 JOHN F. HAVILAND INVENTOR BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLAROUIST 8} SPARKMAN ATTORNEYS 1 LIFESAVING HELMET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to lifesavingapparatus, and more particularly, to a lifesaving helmet of the type to prevent a shipwrecked swimmer from being drowned due to waves and sea breaking over him.

A variety of lifesaving devices have been known to the prior art which devices comprise a hood or other protective covering for the head. Such prior devices, however, have not been fully satisfactory. Most operate on the same principle as a snorkle does, wherein the user needs to blow water out of the same tube through which he receives air. These devices also require the air entry tube to be held in the wearers mouth, thereby to prevent normal functioning thereof during extended periods of time.

Drowning should first be approached as a problem in engineering. The weight of the human body closely approximates that of water and only slight support is necessary for some portion to be held above water. The nose and mouth are so positioned, however, that it is necessary to hold a heavy part of the body, the head, entirely out of the water to survive. In fluctuating water (waves) this problem is accentuated. In water lifesaving, therefore, the major problem is to provide for adequate breathing conditions.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a lifesaving helmet that will enable the wearer to survive even in the roughest seas. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a helmet that will enable normal functioning of the wearers nose and mouth while the helmet is being worn.

It is a still further object of the presentinvention to provide a lifesaving helmet that will enable water to be discharged therefrom through an outlet other than the one through which air enters.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a helmet wherein the same outlet valve.

serves both to discharge water and exhaled air under the exhalation pressure of the wearer.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a helmet for heavy weather protection, such as used by motorcyclists, which will avoid the discomforts caused by rain and cold and breathing in subzero weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My lifesaving helmet comprises mask means or other enclosure means for at least the nose and mouth of the wearer which means are adapted to seal the nose and mouth against entry of water. Inlet valve means are positioned above the enclosure means to introduce air thereto when the wearer inhales. Conduit means communicate at one end with the inlet valve means, the other end of the conduit means discharging air in the region of the wearers nose and mouth. The discharge end of the conduit means, however, terminates short of the mouth, thereby to enable normal functioning thereof when the mask or enclosure is worn. Ability to speak is thus uninhibited.

Outlet valve means are positioned at the bottom of the enclosure means below the discharge end of the conduit means. Such outlet valve means are adapted to exhaust both air and water from within the enclosure means under normal exhalation pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a lifesaving helmet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the helmet illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a different em bodiment of the invention. v

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, the helmet 10 therein illustrated comprises an enclosure 12 for the head and a strap 14 for cinching a neck encircling portion 16 about the neck of the wearer. A flotation collar 18 is optionally attached to the rear of the portion 16 and has straps 20 at its ends for tying the collar around the neck, thereby to assure that the wearers head will be maintained above the surface of the water.

The back portion 21 of the enclosure 12 is preferably made of plastic or 3/16 inch foam rubber of the type used for making wet suits and is bonded to a transparent plastic face portion 22 which is designed to give the wearer a wide range of vision. Portion 22 serves to protect the face from water and weather and also provides better underwater viewing then is possible with goggles.

An inlet valve 24 having a hood 26 thereover to prevent excessive entry of water is positioned at the top of the enclosure 12. Valve 24 has a sealing membrane 28 which permits air to enter but not exist.

Conduit means in the form of a flexible corrugated rubber tube 30 positioned exteriorly of the enclosure 12 connects the inlet valve 24 with the lower region 31 of the enclosure, thus to convey air from the valve 24 directly into the region of the wearers nose and mouth. It will be noted, however, that the tube 30 does not extend into the interior of the enclosure 12 and need not be held within the mouth to enable the wearer to breathe.

The corrugated tube 30 also serves to carry any water that may enter the inlet valve 24 to the lower region 31 of the helmet. An outlet valve 32 is positioned at the bottom of the region 31 and below the discharge end 34 of the tube 30. Valve 32 has a sealing membrane 36 which permits water and air to exit therethrough, but not to enter. Thus, water which runs down the tube 30 and into the lower portion 31 of the enclosure 12 may exit the helmet through the valve 32, which serves also to exhaust air under the normal exhalation pressure of the wearer.

A breath barrier 38 of soft sponge material is mounted within the enclosure 12 above the position of the wearers nose to divert exhaled air toward the outlet valve 32. With percent humidity prevailing problem, and the barrier 38 serves to prevent the same.

I have found the helmet to be comfortable, permitting the wearer to engage in conversation, and able to be worn for extended periods of time. The helmet is open around the face. There is no need to blow water out of the air inlet conduit, as is the case with snorkle equipment, and the mouth is not impeded from its normal functioning. Once a person wears the helmet for a few minutes and develops confidence in his ability to breathe properly, he loses all fear of being closed in.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. The device 40 therein illustrated comprises a mask 42 made of 3/16 inch foam rubber and which seals only the nose and mouth of the weareragainst the entry of water. The mask 42 is retained in position by a head encircling strap 44 having an adjustable clamp 46. Positioned forwardly of the mask 42 is a rubber air receiving portion 48 which has an entry 50 for the introduction of air thereto. An inlet'valve 52 having a float 54, or other means to keep it on the surface of the water at the upper back portion of the head, connects with a flexible corrugated rubber tube 56 communicating with the inlet 50 to convey air for breathing into the portion 48. The tube 56 is exterior of the 'mask 42, and the float 54 retains the valve 52 on the surface of the water. FIG. 4 illustrates the position of the apparatus when the head is substantially below the surface of the water.

An outlet valve 58 having a sealing membrane 59 permitting egress only of exhaled air and water is positioned at the bottom of the portion 48. The latter serves as a catch basin for water which settles directly over the valve 58. Air and water from within the mask 42 are discharged through the valve 58 under normal exhalation pressure.

Mask 42 does essentially what a snorkle does, but without the need to blow water out of the tube through which air enters and without the need to retain any such tube in the mouth. Thus the ability to speak is uninhibited. A sufficient seal is provided so that normal lung pressure can actuate both the inlet and outlet valves 52 and 58, respectively.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate still another embodiment of the present invention. The helmet 60 therein illustrated comprises an enclosure in the form of a protective hood 62 having a back portion 63 of 3/16 inch foam rubber with a soft rubber gasket 64 to seal the nose and mouth area so that the air pressure variations created by the users lungs can operate the various valves. Helmet 60 is adapted to enclose the entire head. A neckencircling strap 68 is provided to close the lower portion 66 against excessive entry of water.

A transparent plastic face portion 70 is positioned in the front of the helmet 60 and is attached at its lower end 71 to a rubber portion 72 which serves as a reservoir for water. The portion 70 is positioned in front of the wearers eyes; the portion 72 is positioned generally in the area of the wearers nose and mouth.

If desired, portion 70 may be constructed in the form of a double layer of transparent plastic material, thereby to insulate the interior of the helmet from the effects of cold and prevent condensation on the inner surface 73.

An inlet valve 74 having a sealing membrane 76 is positioned at the top of the helmet 60 and is adapted to permit air to enter but not exit from the helmet. A barrier 78 is mounted underneath the valve 74 and is sealed at its edges 80 to the rubber back portion 63. The barrier 78 is open at its front 82 to serve as a conduit for the inlet air and as a means to direct such air from the valve 74 downwardly along the transparent face portion 70. This continuous flow of air from the top of the helmet down across the plastic face serves to defog the same.

A rubber gasket 84 is mounted interiorly of the enclosure 62 to sea] an area 85 surrounding the wearers nose and mouth and to prevent the wearer's breath from fogging the face portion 70.

A second inlet valve 86 mounted in the gasket 84 permits air after passing along the transparent face portion 70 to enter but not exit from the sealed area 85 around the wearers nose and mouth.

Any water that enters through the inlet valve 74 is received on the barrier 78 from which it flows through an interiorly positioned plastic conduit 90 at the side of the helmet through the inlet valve 86, whence it collects at the bottom of the portion 72 above an outlet valve 92. The latter valve permits continuous discharge of such collected water together with the air exhaled by the wearer, thus constantly purging the equipment of water along with exhaled air.

Having illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments, it should be apparent that the invention permits of modification and arrangement in detail.

I claim:

1. A helmet for use in assisting a person in water, comprising mask means for enclosing at least the face of a person, said mask means including a transparent face portion;

first sealing means in said mask means to seal said mask means against entry of water and against air pressure variations caused by the person breathing; first inlet valve means positioned in the top of said mask means;

a first sealing membrane disposed in said inlet valve means and adapted to permit the entry of air into said mask means through said first inlet valve means when the person inhales, said membrane preventing discharge of air through said first inlet valve means when the person exhales;

hood means disposed over said first inlet valve means to prevent excessive entry of water into said mask means through said inlet valve means;

means to direct said air from said first inlet valve means downwardly along said transparent face portion;

second sealing means positioned interiorly of said mask means to seal the area surrounding the nose and mouth of the person;

second inlet valve means positioned in said second sealing means to permit said air after passing along said transparent face portion to enter said sealed area surrounding said nose and mouth;

outlet valve means positioned in the bottom of said mask means; and

a second sealing membrane disposed in said outlet valve means and adapted to exhaust air and water from within said mask means when the person exhales, said last named sealing membrane preventing entry of air and water in said mask means through said outlet valve means.

2. The helmet of claim 1 further comprising conduit means positioned interiorly of said mask means and adapted to direct water entering through said first inlet valve means through said second inlet valve means to said sealed area whence it can exit through said outlet 5 valve means. 

1. A helmet for use in assisting a person in water, comprising mask means for enclosing at least the face of a person, said mask means including a transparent face portion; first sealing means in said mask means to seal said mask means against entry of water and against air pressure variations caused by the person breathing; first inlet valve means positioned in the top of said mask means; a first sealing membrane disposed in said inlet valve means and adapted to permit the entry of air into said mask means through said first inlet valve means when the person inhales, said membrane preventing discharge of air through said first inlet valve means when the person exhales; hood means disposed over said first inlet valve means to prevent excessive entry of water into said mask means through said inlet valve means; means to direct said air from said first inlet valve means downwardly along said transparent face portion; second sealing means positioned interiorly of said mask means to seal the area surrounding the nose and mouth of the person; second inlet valve means positioned in said second sealing means to permit said air after passing along said transparent face portion to enter said sealed area surrounding said nose and mouth; outlet valve means positioned in the bottom of said mask means; and a second sealing membrane disposed in said outlet valve means and adapted to exhaust air and water from within said mask means when the person exhales, said last named sealing membrane preventing entry of air and water in said mask means through said outlet valve means.
 2. The helmet of claim 1 further comprising conduit means positioned interiorly of said mask means and adapted to direct water entering through said first inlet valve means through said second inlet valve means to said sealed area whence it can exit through said outlet valve means. 